Grace and Frankie: Season One
J**C
FONDA AND TOMLIN AT THEIR BEST IN A VIBRANT, FUNNY AND OFTEN POIGNANT SHOW
My first thought is NETFLIX is on the roll here with some great original programming for all ages. GRACE AND FRANKIE is pure joy. The chemistry between Jane Fonda (Grace) and Lily Tomlin totally lights up the screen. Both actors are in their 70's and full of life and vibrance. They prove that you're only as old as you feel.The series does start slowly and I was afraid I would lose interest but then it moved full steam ahead. There is no lead up to the main event. We know from the beginning that Grace's husband Robert (Martin Sheen) is leaving her to marry Frankie's husband Sol (a very delightful Sam Waterston). The lack of any backstory or lead up seemed annoying and confusing at first but in later episodes we get more of the story.There is a double story here worth thinking about. Two men have been living a lie and finally come out as gay in their 70's. On the other side, we have two women faced with knowing they have unknowingly been part of this lie and now are single and have to over in their 70's. Yes, Grace and Frankie do it with grace and frankness. We feel their struggles. Neither women have been fond of each other through the years but now they must bond and grow together.Fonda and Tomlin seem to play exaggerated versions of their real selves and it works. Fonda is the beautiful but rigid socialite author. Tomlin is the quirky yet seriously lovable earth mother. Sheen seems a bit stilted as a gay man but someone the wonderful Sam Waterson brings in all the joys and sadness of his new life. Waterston is a gem. I have always liked him and thought of him as a dramatic actor but here he is in a new role--serious, sweet, loving, full of guilt and totally delightful. There is a crinkle and spark in his eyes when he smiles. He's the grandfather we all wish we had in life.This show really delves into the lives of two women whose husbands come out as gay. GRACE AND FRANKIE doesn't portray these 70 plus ladies as anything but young-hearted and vibrant. Their age is not used as brunt of jokes as in many other shows. They are sexy and alive.The only annoying part of GRACE AND FRANKIE are their 4 kids. The characters and the actors seem out of place and rather unpleasant.I first thought Frankie and Sol's sons (one black and one white) were a gay couple. Nwabudike (Baron Vaughn) is the most likable of the three but his character is the least developed. Coyote (Ethan Embry) is a reformed alcoholic and drug addict yet he taunted by soon to be sisters for his past while they rush off to have a drink to deal with their gay fathers. Briana (June Diane Raphael) is by far the most obnoxious and annoying daughter on TV. Crude, sex crazed, lonely, sad and a great businesswoman. We just don't need to see these characters.Another bit of fun is seeing popular and now senior actors again--Ernie, Hudson, Craig T. Nelson, and Corbin Bernsen with more to come in Season 2. It's a show about life and living it to the fullest. Finally, there is a show about seniors who are enjoying life and not dying or incapacitated. This show is fun for people of all ages. Plenty and maybe excessive crude language but mostly everything is in good taste. Fonda and Tomlin are real winners here.
T**
Love this series
YGrace & Frankie is about family to the ninth degree!
M**.
This series is classy, down-to-earth, intricate, delightful and has a list of top-notch actors for all ages !
The series is about two elderly, heterosexual couples that have each been married about 40 years. The two men ( Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen) meet their wives ( Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda ) at a restaurant in their home city of San Diego CA and confess to their wives that they've been having a sexual relationship with each other for the past 20 years and that they want to divorce their wives and marry each other. From there we get to watch their lives, post confession, unfold. There's all the dysfunction that plagues all families and it's a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Although the four central characters are over 70 years of age, there are subplots that involve their young-adult aged kids. This series has a lot of top-notch actors that viewers of all ages can relate to and is classy, down-to-earth, intricate and enlightening. I bought season one , on a whim, after browsing the web. Of course I like both Tomlin and Fonda as actors and that's why I gave this series a chance. My husband and I sat down to watch the pilot episode and laughed repeatedly throughout the hour long episode. We immediately fell in love with this show and just had to watch one more episode and afterwards decided then and there to watch just one episode a week or else we'd binge watch and quickly run right through season one. From that day on Fridays are now officially referred to as " Grace and Frankie " Fridays. We both LOVE and HIGHLY recommend this series.
S**T
OMG! I've died and gone to TV show heaven
OMG! I've died and gone to TV show heaven… I just got the Netflix new series called Grace and Frankie on DVD and I love it! I didn't even realize it was only a half an hour show because each episode is so tightly written-there's so much happening in it it feels like an hour (of course when you think about the fact that "an hour" TV show is now only 42 min. long and a situation comedy on DVD without the commercials runs a little bit longer… I timed it out at approximately 25 min. I guess there's almost not that much difference between a half-hour show and an hour show… Anyway this show is absolutely hysterical… Yet the humor is based on "real life situations" I guess you could say-just my type humor. I adore this show and I've only seen the first DVD disc which I'm actually really watching because I want to catch every little nuance of facial expressions and situations. I can only hope that Netflix will offer a season two on DVD because I don't do any streaming or subscribing. Anyway I'm enjoying this show tremendously and laughing right out loud! :-D I should say that the show is not for everybody in that it's probably rated R with language situations but entirely appropriate for our odd couple of Frankie and Grace played by Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
S**.
What a pair!
Props to these actresses. Season 1 sets up for the rest. Highly recommended for all
D**N
So Real!!
So real! Oh yes there are bits and pieces here and there that do not resonate - they have tons of money (unlike most divorced women), a beach house that is fabulous (who can afford to live on the beach?), Jane Fonda is super slim and has NO wrinkles. Given all of that, the acting is lovely, strong cast, beautifully photographed, and lots of the 'moments' seem very, very real. When middle aged women divorce (been there and done that), how do they create a new life? How do you date and/or have sex after 40 years with the same man? The scene with Jane in bed with her first lover after 40 years is hilarious! I did laugh and it is well worth the price - purchase the DVD and watch with a few women friends who are in their 50's - at least!
C**C
Great, funny, realistic and humane series!
Excellent series! I ordered it because I went through a similar marital experience! After 20 years of marriage and at age 50 my ex-husband came out! By watching this series, it made me re-live some painful moments, but at the same time, it made me understand things that were still unclear to me! So, fun, realistic and, in my case, it helped me ease my sorrows... I also just finished watching season 2 and it is just as great as the first one! I hope there will be a season 3!For me, it's my therapy!
G**L
One Star
HAD TO RETURN IT-COST ME £4.25 AS WASN'T COMPATABLE WITH MY DVD PLAYER-PROBABLY MY FAULT BIUT VERY ANNOYING
G**I
5 Stars +
This is my new favourite series. What a witty and original comedy with seasoned acting veterans! Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston and the rest of the cast are at their acting best in this one! Grace & Frankie's husbands leave them to be with each other, in a heartbreaking, devastating, comical look at how to come out the other side after having been duped and dumped after 40 years of marriage. Worth the buy for sure!
S**E
You can't go wrong with Tomlin and Fonda!
Not only is the cast downright AMAZING, but the writing is sweet, funny, edgy in places and original throughout - and the characters are incredibly well written. I have a Netflix subscription, and being a Netflix original it's unlikely they'll ever take it off their listings... but I didn't hesitate to buy it on DVD, if for no other reason than to lend it out to my friends and family. Even my dad likes it :)
S**Y
SO GLAD I GOT THIS
Really loved this show. Took a chance on this tv series and so glad I did. I thought it was funny and I just loved all the characters. I will definitely watch this again. I was sad when I watched the last episode as I was enjoying it so much. Will definitely be ordering series 2 and am looking forward to it!
Trustpilot
1 day ago
3 weeks ago